PHUKET - The Islands North

Phuket post, 4-12-2006

When does the high season begin? Opinions vary. The Patong Festival usually is promoted as the opening of the high season, and that's always around 1 November. But most Phuket hotels don't increase their rates until December at the earliest, and sometimes not until the middle of the month.

Perhaps one indication is that the Chedi, which has been operating on a headland north of Surin beach for 16 years, will be holding a party this Wednesday (7 December) to mark the high season.

The Chedi forms the first Phuket Post DAILY resort profile. More will be coming, Monday to Friday, from north, south, east and west.

Daniel J Meury, general manager of The Chedi for four years, believes that when it comes to tourists, quality is more important than quantity. While the occupancy rate there is 80 percent for November, he can see it topping 90% very soon – a good result considering guests can be asked to pay up to $US500 a night for a holiday along the beachfront.

“The beach is very private,” he said. The Chedi followed on the site of the Pansea Hotel, one of the first on the island, which went up about 25 years ago. According to Mr Meury, the beach is still The Chedi's best asset.

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